Mark Germino
Encyclopedia
Mark Germino is an American
folk rock
and country
singer-songwriter
. Born in North Carolina
, he initially worked as a poet
before moving into folk rock songwriting; by 1974, he had moved to Nashville
. Initially, he did not plan to become a singer, although he eventually bought a guitar and took up singing as well, as he decided that singing was easier than reciting poetry.
Germino moved on to performing in Nashville clubs at night, while working by day as a truck driver
. By 1981, he was signed to a songwriting contract; five years later, RCA Records
signed him as a recording artist. Between 1986 and 1991, he recorded two solo albums for the label (1986's London Moon and Barnyard Remedies and 1987's Caught in the Act of Being Ourselves); a third album for the label, 1991's Radartown, featured a backing band called The Sluggers. His third solo album, 1995's Rank and File, was issued independently.
"Broken Man's Lament" from the London Moon and Barnyard Remedies album has been recorded and released by Emmylou Harris
on her album All I Intended to Be
. Germino also co-wrote the singles "Bill's Laundromat, Bar and Grill" for Confederate Railroad
and "I Will Stand" for Kenny Chesney
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
folk rock
Folk rock
Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of folk music and rock music. In its earliest and narrowest sense, the term referred to a genre that arose in the United States and the UK around the mid-1960s...
and country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
. Born in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, he initially worked as a poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
before moving into folk rock songwriting; by 1974, he had moved to Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. Initially, he did not plan to become a singer, although he eventually bought a guitar and took up singing as well, as he decided that singing was easier than reciting poetry.
Germino moved on to performing in Nashville clubs at night, while working by day as a truck driver
Truck driver
A truck driver , is a person who earns a living as the driver of a truck, usually a semi truck, box truck, or dump truck.Truck drivers provide an essential service to...
. By 1981, he was signed to a songwriting contract; five years later, RCA Records
RCA Records
RCA Records is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. The RCA initials stand for Radio Corporation of America , which was the parent corporation from 1929 to 1985 and a partner from 1985 to 1986.RCA's Canadian unit is Sony's oldest label...
signed him as a recording artist. Between 1986 and 1991, he recorded two solo albums for the label (1986's London Moon and Barnyard Remedies and 1987's Caught in the Act of Being Ourselves); a third album for the label, 1991's Radartown, featured a backing band called The Sluggers. His third solo album, 1995's Rank and File, was issued independently.
"Broken Man's Lament" from the London Moon and Barnyard Remedies album has been recorded and released by Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris
Emmylou Harris is an American singer-songwriter and musician. In addition to her work as a solo artist and bandleader, both as an interpreter of other composers' works and as a singer-songwriter, she is a sought-after backing vocalist and duet partner, working with numerous other artists including...
on her album All I Intended to Be
All I Intended to Be
Harris stated that “Sailing Round the Room” was inspired by Terri Schiavo and is a celebration of life and death; “How She Could Sing the Wildwood Flower” refers to the relationship between A. P. and Sara Carter and was inspired by a documentary that Harris, together with Kate and Anna McGarrigle,...
. Germino also co-wrote the singles "Bill's Laundromat, Bar and Grill" for Confederate Railroad
Confederate Railroad
Confederate Railroad is an American country rock band founded in 1987 in Marietta, Georgia by Danny Shirley , Michael Lamb , Mark Dufresne , Chris McDaniel , Warren "Gates" Nichols and Wayne Secrest...
and "I Will Stand" for Kenny Chesney
Kenny Chesney
Kenneth "Kenny" Arnold Chesney is an American country music singer and songwriter. Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S...
.
Discography
- London Moon and Barnyard Remedies (1986, RCA, PL85852)
- Caught in the Act of Being Ourselves (1987, RCA, PL86608)
- Radartown (1991, RCA, PD90550) (as Mark Germino and The Sluggers)
- Rank and File (1995, Winter Harvest, WH3303)
- Atomic Candlestick (2007, Atomic Office Records, 044-001) (as Mark Germino and the Grenade Angels)